The university said its proposal was prompted by a change in federal patent law. Patents are now awarded on a first-to-file basis, meaning a rival could use the open-records law to gain early access to UW-Madison research and then try to file a patent first.

But the proposal doesn't sit well with Bill Lueders, who runs the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council. He says current law already allows UW to deny requests if it can cite a legitimate reason.

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